HSN719 - Assessment Methods for Nutrition and Physical Activity Research
Unit details
| Year | 2025 unit information |
|---|---|
| Enrolment modes: | Trimester 1: Burwood (Melbourne), Online Trimester 3: Burwood (Melbourne), Online |
| Credit point(s): | 1 |
| EFTSL value: | 0.125 |
| Unit Chair: | Trimester 1: Sara Dingle Trimester 3: Michael Tieland |
| Cohort rule: | H511, H517, H616 and H714 students: enrol in online mode only. Other Postgraduate students who wish to enrol in this unit: If you are enrolled in an on campus course, you can enrol in the on campus unit offering and you will need to request a manual enrolment from a Student Adviser in Student Central. If you are enrolled in an online course, you need to enrol into the online unit offering. |
| Prerequisite: | Nil |
| Corequisite: | Nil |
| Incompatible with: | HSN305 |
| Educator-facilitated (scheduled) learning activities - on-campus unit enrolment: | 5 x 2 hour seminars per trimester |
| Educator-facilitated (scheduled) learning activities - online unit enrolment: | 5 x 2 hour online seminars per trimester |
| Typical study commitment: | Students will on average spend 150 hours over the teaching period undertaking the teaching, learning and assessment activities for this unit. This will include educator guided online learning activities within the unit site. |
Content
This unit provides an overview of methods of measuring food intake, physical activity, energy expenditure and body composition at the individual and population level. Practical activities are undertaken to gain a strong understanding of issues in analysing and interpreting data relating to nutritional and physical activity status and body composition. The uses and limitations of each of the assessment methodologies are critically evaluated. Reference standards and Australian norms for nutrition, physical activity and anthropometry are examined. The interpretation of dietary, physical activity and body composition survey data is addressed along with an examination of the theory and practice of validation and measurement error.
Learning Outcomes
| ULO | These are the Unit Learning Outcomes (ULOs) for this unit. At the completion of this unit, successful students can: | Alignment to Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes (GLOs) |
|---|---|---|
| ULO1 | Describe the principles and methods of assessment for dietary intake, physical activity and anthropometry. | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities |
| ULO2 | Critically evaluate the methods of assessment for dietary intake, physical activity and anthropometry. | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities |
| ULO3 | Perform dietary intake assessment using appropriate Australian food composition databases and nutrient analysis software. | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities |
| ULO4 | Interpret the dietary intake, physical activity and anthropometric assessment data making comparisons against population norms and recommendations. | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities |
| ULO5 | Report and communicate dietary intake, physical activity and anthropometric assessment data, your critical evaluation and interpretation using appropriate, discipline specific language, references and presentation. | GLO2: Communication |
Nutrition core competencies developed in this unit:
Nutrients
- Amounts required for lifespan stages
- Strengths and limitations to nutritional assessment
- Markers of nutritional status
Be able to assess, analyse and interpret nutritional data
- Assess nutritional status
- Analyse food composition
- Interpret dietary data according to guidelines
- Use current technology
Abilities in research skills
- Identify and critically evaluate literature
- Select research methods and applications
- Understand strengths and weaknesses of different research methods
- Analyse and interpret data
Assessment
| Assessment description | Student output | Grading and weighting (% total mark for unit) | Indicative due week |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment 1: Written report | 1500 words | 30% |
|
| Assessment 2: Written report | 1500 words | 30% |
|
| Assessment 3: Written report | 2000 words | 40% |
|
The assessment due weeks provided may change. The Unit Chair will clarify the exact assessment requirements, including the due date, at the start of the teaching period.
Learning resource
The texts and reading list for HSN719 can be found via the University Library.
Note: Select the relevant trimester reading list. Please note that a future teaching period's reading list may not be available until a month prior to the start of that teaching period so you may wish to use the relevant trimester's prior year reading list as a guide only.
Unit Fee Information
Fees and charges vary depending on the type of fee place you hold, your course, your commencement year, the units you choose to study and their study discipline, and your study load.
Tuition fees increase at the beginning of each calendar year and all fees quoted are in Australian dollars ($AUD). Tuition fees do not include textbooks, computer equipment or software, other equipment or costs such as mandatory checks, travel and stationery.
For further information regarding tuition fees, other fees and charges, invoice due dates, withdrawal dates, payment methods visit our Current Students website.